So why should the rich kids get to play other races but not the poor kids? Sure let the rich kids get first crack at them but the poor kids should get a chance eventually.

Um, I am not rich and I attended multiple conventions last year and am attending 3-4 this year. Alexander_Damocles just posted about being an out of work college student funding his way to a convention on $50.

It's not just the 1% attending conventions here people. People strapped for cash still attend conventions. They just make sacrifices. Like eating Ramen every day for a month type sacrifices.

Some of us are already eating ramen and picking which bills toskip this month(I only have internet by virtue of my grandparents and the library). I have books only because I had them already(and the occasional gift).

$50 could ensure my phone bill gets paid. Only an idiot thinks a con is more important then bills.

The races currently in boons are just a little stronger than the core races (and that might be stretching for a few). So I'm looking to Boons that are flavourful and strengthen the character.
To me, the ability to shrug off a heavy pick that should drop the character is as 'visual' as playing a tiefling, or a dhampyr. Adabar's blessing allowing you to be the 'big damn hero' to the party is another. By tying them to the campaign world, either through deities or other fluff, it also serves as a 'hook' to get the new player or con goer to delve deeper into the world, and thus feed back to buying the books. "Hmm, Why is this called Desna Laughs? Maybe I should get that book with the Desna stuff in it..."

As to the novels, that's a non-starter to my argument on opening up the races. Anyone can buy the novel and apply the boon (I'm planning to use a couple on Rey). Just like anyone can buy the APG and play an alchemist. People can't buy the ARG and play a slyph.

Oldie but goodie.
Touched by Castrovel Your half elf character has latent psionic potential. He may cast light on any crystal valued over 5 GP. This light lasts as long as he holds it.

So why should the rich kids get to play other races but not the poor kids? Sure let the rich kids get first crack at them but the poor kids should get a chance eventually.

Um, I am not rich and I attended multiple conventions last year and am attending 3-4 this year. Alexander_Damocles just posted about being an out of work college student funding his way to a convention on $50.

It's not just the 1% attending conventions here people. People strapped for cash still attend conventions. They just make sacrifices. Like eating Ramen every day for a month type sacrifices.

Some of us are already eating ramen and picking which bills toskip this month(I only have internet by virtue of my grandparents and the library). I have books only because I had them already(and the occasional gift).

$50 could ensure my phone bill gets paid. Only an idiot thinks a con is more important then bills.

People have their own priorities and make their own decisions regarding finances. But lumping everyone who goes to conventions as 'rich people' is not correct.

There's one thing about the race boon that is really helpful, and if race boons are replaced, I want to submit this for consideration:

One of the nice things about the race boons is that it limits the number of non-core race characters in the game. If we're going to open up other races, we need some sort of other requirement to keep numbers down. One thing some people feel very strongly about in their fantasy is keeping the old school flavor of the core races, and preventing the "zoo effect" of having more exotic characters in a part than core races from old school standard fantasy.

My suggestion is that non-core races and other big mechanical rewards be some sort of achievement that is easier to accomplish at cons but not impossible - like playing X sessions, getting a core race character to level X, completing certain scenarios that are con specials to be released to the public at a later date, like the high ranking GM special mods.

That way the races still feel special, and cons are an easy ticket to those races, but not the only ticket.

Disclaimer: I am NOT a grognard. I love Aasimar and Tieflings to death, Planescape is one of my favorite settings ever. However, it gets hard to take the game seriously when I sit down at the table with a Tiefling, a half-golem, a Kitsune, a Dhampir, and a redeemed Intellect Devourer. IMO, a line must be drawn, even if it's a more forgiving line than con boons.

@Alexander I don't have my CRB up, so I didn't have the armor enhancement to compare costs. Maybe ignore one precision/crit per scenario? Along those lines...

Most boons should have a limited amount of use. For example, in the special event, you can get a boon that allows you to re-roll a total of two attack rolls, over any amount of time, but once they're used they're crossed off your chronicle sheet and gone for good.

So your idea of ignoring a crit or precision damage is good, I just think it's too powerful if it's once per scenario, it would be better if it could only be used 1-3 times total. The ability to ignore a crit is a really powerful ability.

Wow. You are reaching incredibly far here, I think. I dont know what country you are from, but we have the Americans with Disabilities Act here in the states which would take care of this kind of situation in almost all cases.

It's not much of a reach.

I cannot drive (legally blind). If it's not attached to the DC Metro, I cannot attend.

While having a vibrant and passionate debate is something that's great about these forums, we need to remember that a lot of what is being mentioned as "facts" are in reality just assumptions.

The people that participate in PFS share the desire to play the game but not necessarily much else. What works for some may not work for others. So while we are throwing around ideas we can at least treat each other politely.

My suggestion is that non-core races and other big mechanical rewards be some sort of achievement that is easier to accomplish at cons but not impossible - like playing X sessions, getting a core race character to level X, completing certain scenarios that are con specials to be released to the public at a later date, like the high ranking GM special mods.

That way the races still feel special, and cons are an easy ticket to those races, but not the only ticket.

I think thats a really interesting idea. I hope it catches on.

deanoth wrote:

This will go a long way to eliminate some of the elite attitudes some have shown in this thread and I do say "some" and not everyone. It would be even better on the promotion aspect of PFS too. Considering the local events is what attracts a LOT of people to PFS to begin with why not give them something to attract even more to the small local events and grwo them there?

Deanoth - you made the cardinal error of raising a point that goes against the grain here. Now you too will probably get shouted off the forums like several others who have raised similar concerns. Take hope, there are others out there that disagree with the racial boon system especially with the $40 ARG coming out.

My suggestion is that non-core races and other big mechanical rewards be some sort of achievement that is easier to accomplish at cons but not impossible - like playing X sessions, getting a core race character to level X, completing certain scenarios that are con specials to be released to the public at a later date, like the high ranking GM special mods.

That way the races still feel special, and cons are an easy ticket to those races, but not the only ticket.

I think thats a really interesting idea. I hope it catches on.

To expand on it - if we made an Xbox/Playstation style achievement system, it could be a good way of allowing experienced players to play the game " on challenge mode" by challenging them to try to do difficult things (I.E., complete a scenario without taking damage, or get five crits this scenario) or challenging them to optimize suboptimal choices (play a Geisha to 6th level and you unlock Kitsune!) while not jacking up the baseline difficulty level for non-optimizers.

Desna Laughs Once per scenario if a critical hit does enough damage to drop you to negative HP, you may treat that hit as if it never happened. You take a -1 luck penalty to to hit rolls for the remainder of the scenario.

While I kind of dig a lot of the ideas you present there is one thing which kind of bugs me. Most of the ideas here essentially stack, you can get this boon and three or four of the others you mentioned all on the same character. Adding up half a dozen or so boons can significantly bump the power of a character.

This boon in particular can easily negate a character death; which strikes me as being the sort of thing which is good for a one time boon, not a permanent power-up. Definitely not the sort of thing I want to see characters with three or four of.

Racial boons are limited by definition. Most of the races are relatively similar in power and you can only apply one racial boon per character. If someone grabs five racial boons, none of those characters will have a huge advantage over the rest of the characters at the table. After a point the 'value' of racial boons tapers off as well because you can only play one character at a time.

I'm not a huge fan of racial boons, but I like them a lot better than boons which are stealth power ups for characters.

Desna Laughs Once per scenario if a critical hit does enough damage to drop you to negative HP, you may treat that hit as if it never happened. You take a -1 luck penalty to to hit rolls for the remainder of the scenario.

While I kind of dig a lot of the ideas you present there is one thing which kind of bugs me. Most of the ideas here essentially stack, you can get this boon and three or four of the others you mentioned all on the same character. Adding up half a dozen or so boons can significantly bump the power of a character.

This boon in particular can easily negate a character death; which strikes me as being the sort of thing which is good for a one time boon, not a permanent power-up. Definitely not the sort of thing I want to see characters with three or four of.

Racial boons are limited by definition. Most of the races are relatively similar in power and you can only apply one racial boon per character. If someone grabs five racial boons, none of those characters will have a huge advantage over the rest of the characters at the table. After a point the 'value' of racial boons tapers off as well because you can only play one character at a time.

I'm not a huge fan of racial boons, but I like them a lot better than boons which are stealth power ups for characters.

I think that the "god named" boons suggested are inherently limited to 1/character because it is implied you need to worship the god it is named for.

Face_P0lluti0n wrote:

To expand on it - if we made an Xbox/Playstation style achievement system, it could be a good way of allowing experienced players to play the game " on challenge mode" by challenging them to try to do difficult things (I.E., complete a scenario without taking damage, or get five crits this scenario) or challenging them to optimize suboptimal choices (play a Geisha to 6th level and you unlock Kitsune!) while not jacking up the baseline difficulty level for non-optimizers.

The last thing we need is to make PFS any more video-game like. I have already heard one person refer to scenarios as "instances". I think steam actually came out of my ears. This would just encourage things like a character staying three rooms behind and not contributing as they should to the scenario to unlock the achievement for themselves, which can be a drag for everyone else at the table. Bad idea.

Wow. You are reaching incredibly far here, I think. I dont know what country you are from, but we have the Americans with Disabilities Act here in the states which would take care of this kind of situation in almost all cases.

It's not much of a reach.

I cannot drive (legally blind). If it's not attached to the DC Metro, I cannot attend.

Notice how my quote says 'almost all' cases?

I'm really not trying to be rude or insensitive about this, nor will I assume you havent thought of any and all other options you might have to get you to a con that isnt close to the Metro, but I would imagine that for every legally blind (or similarly handicapped person) who has some kind of condition which keeps them from being able to attend a convention/game day, there is one who has similar circumstances but has found a way to work around it and is able to attend.

One of the men I used to work for and really respect had a motto I still try to live by: Bring me solutions, not problems.
page One

Spoiler:

• The chronicle is two-fold: It requires the PC to do something in a scenario that aligns with the goals of their faction. It provides either its own small boon (+1 to a certain skill perhaps) and/or it provides a piece to a much larger boon that aligns with the faction growing in influence (perhaps a permanent PP or Fame boost). The larger boon is only gained after X-Y successful unique chronicles.
• Each faction has it's own set of X unique chronicles.
• 1) Extra PP, or even Fame, say PP to replace some already spent.
• 2) Or a Family Connection? (My adopted father's sister's step son's wife is the sister of a Venture Captain.)
• 3) The ability to take a level of an NPC class. This would not be overpowering (some would say it's a lose of power) and very unique. And very noticable - "How'd you get to be an Expert?" "Con Boon".
• 4) A boon to allow a PC to be in two factions... the bridge character between two factions. He get's faction missions for either/both and gains Fame/Vanities in both?
• Premature access to a vanity (I know at least one player who is saving prestige just to get one of the vanities for their character)
• Faction Boons
• Taldor - Noble bearing. +4 on diplomacy with Taldor nobility, +2 on intimidate with peseants. (likely needs to be stronger)
• Cheliax - Legal tongue. +2 on Sense Motive, +2 on bluff vs humaniods.
• Andoran - Inspiring Freedom. +1 compentence bonus on skill checks, saves and to hit rolls when dealing with known slavers.
• Lantern Lodge - Serene mein. +2 on concentration checks.
• Shadow Lodge - Both sides of the fence. You may complete Shadow Lodgeor Grand Lodge missions for prestige (still maximum 2 per scenario).
-Deity Boons
• Cayden's Blessing- As a follower of Cayden you gain a +2 sacred bonus vs injested toxins and halve the hardness for sunder attempts for cell doors, chains or anything else the GM feels pertains to restraints.
• Caliistra's Blessing- As a follower of the Savoured Sting, you gain a +1 sacred bonus on all saves vs poison, and can do lethal damage with a whip.
• Exceptional Recruit Apply this boon to a brand-new PC. That PC gains 3XP, 4 Prestige/Fame, and 1,100gp.
• Boon permitting exceptional use of PP/Fame (I can't keep the two straight).
• Permanent +1 to CON
• Permanent +1 to physical stat of choice
• Permanent +1 to mental stat of choice
• Permanent +1 to stat of choice
• X/day quickened true strike SLA
• Give a brand new PC a free jump to 2nd level (3XP, 4PP/Fame, 1,100-ish gp)
• +1 to a stat.
• pretty much any SLA
• the ability to purchase scroll s at higher than minimum caster level.
• access to an otherwise unavailable item (like Celestial Plate or a Staff of Mithral Might)
• More advanced guns would bring me to a con
• Maybe allowing a combination item, such as a +WIS Headband/Phylactery of Positive Channeling, following the item creation rule of base item price + (1.5 x secondary ability price)
• Or allowing an upgrade to a named item (+3 Oathbow, anyone?)
• take the template instead of a level when you would otherwise level up an existing character.
• Adding an Advanced Simple or Celestial or Fiendish template might be cool though
• Darkvision 60ft (or increase existing darkvision by 30ft)
• Bonus feat (but can't be a combat feat, maybe?)
• X/day SLAs of comprehend languages or other utility spells
• A cool idea might be for a boon that say only 10 people ever will get (drawing at Gen Con?) like the ability to work with Mike Brock and Mark Moreland to craft a custom magic item (or race?--no, stop throwing things at me!) or whatever.
• Completely custom item would be cool. Maybe access to a custom spell. A spell you could even pass around and spread the love (and your creativity)

• Page Two

Spoiler:

• A free Race trait instead of a swapout might be an option.
• My suggestion is a 10% discount on all purchases in a specific region (Andoran, Ustalav, w/e), but not Absalom...
• These could either a) correlate with scenarios being offered or b) have parts of Golarion assigned to the real world.
• The thought here is that by going to a convention in a certain region OR going to a convention with specific scenarios offered (depending on which way the idea is fleshed out), grants a special boon.
• This could be done in character as well. Much like the chronicle I mentioned before, have a chronicle with 20 regions of Golarion on it. Each time your character goes to that region, check it off. After you check off every region, you get a powerful boon (with the assumption your character would be late in their career).
• Use CHA instead of WIS for will saves
• - You character gets a unique, non combatant follower. Heralds and porters are cool, but can I get someone to do the talking for me? Maybe a translator. He has common and four languages. Pathfinders go all over the globe, maybe you have someone with ranks in know. geography or local at like a +2. Nothing too fancy.
• - Your character gains a flaw with in game mechanics and a benefit. From your ordeal fighting off all those undead, you get a +2 to identify undead in the future. However, the battle left you scarred and you suffer a -2 on diplomacy checks with nobility. Etc, etc.
• - Your character imparts some knowledge to a fellow pathfinder. After the game, your ranger shows that noisy, gorram fighter how to freaking stealth. Pick a skill that you have one or more ranks in, and a player that has no ranks in that skill. You train that player in that skill, granting them a number of ranks equal to 1/2 their level, minimum one. Maybe that skill even becomes a class skill. Whatever, doesn't matter.
• - You character learns how to pack their gear better. Your carrying capacity increases as if your strength score was 2 higher than it actually is. Pseudo muleback cords.
• - Your character takes an advanced course in adventuring at the Grand Lodge in Absalom. As a result, you've learned to keep even the oddest of tools in your pack. In game mechanic is that once per session you can pull a single item of value 50gp or less out of your pack, as it was something that you purchased because you thought it might be useful but had forgotten about. You have to pay for the item you retrieve at the end of the session, recording it on your chronicle sheet.
• A boon that provides the ability to retrain (one time) something regarding your character.
• Maybe the traits you chose at level 1 but now dont like.
• Maybe a feat/ multiple feats.
• Maybe spells learned.
• Maybe the ability to redistribute your stat points.
• Maybe skill points.
• Maybe favored class bonuses.
• Maybe racial features (considering we have the ARG coming out).
• Maybe class features that you have options for (Rage Powers, Cleric Domains, Rogue Talents, etc).

• Page three

Spoiler:

• What about being able to make a new PC with a higher point buy?
• When you make a new PC using a race that has an ability penalty (like dwarves with CHA, elves with CON, etc), remove that penalty.
• Oh! Another, similar idea: alternate stats for Core races:
• Make a dwarf PC with +2 STR, +2 CON, -2 DEX instead of the normal adjustments.
• Make an elf with +2 DEX, +2 CHA, -2 CON .
• For Spont casters, an extra spell known of their highest level.
• Osiron - A permanent +2 on a knowlege skill, and that skill becomes a class skill. Gain a small earth or air elemental as a companion.
• Grand Lodge - Re-roll a failed saving throw once a session, Add either Knowlege (Geography) or Knowlege (History) as a class skill and get a free skill focus.
• Lantern Lodge - Meridian strike on every crit, or even every hit.
• Qadria, gain a horse animal companion.
• RPG Superstar magic items. Advertises the contest,
• Any boon that is awarded to a XXXX-1 character (as in first time PLAYER) not to first time characters :)
• A chance to win a room at [next big con] (sure you may have to share it with one of those 5th tier GMs, but why not :)
• Boons for season 4 Rune boons. You could do a tattoo/amulet the character has/wears with a benefit corresponding to the approriate rune.
• A slotted item (the headband) + a slotless item (the phylactery) would probably = a slotted item (headband + phylactery), which basically gives you no benefit that the separate items dont.
• For GMs, have games GMed at Authorized Conventions count just like Modules towards GM Stars.
• A Boon that opens up selected Feat/Prestige Class/Archetype/etc. from a third party product.
• A Boon that opens up some of the stuff not allowed in additional resources (Example all the Gun archetypes for other classes in UC)
• Fast Healing 1
• Ferocity
• * DR 3/Cold Iron
• * Amphibious Subtype
• * Blindsense 15 ft
• * Spell Resistance 5+HD
• * Telepathy
• Alkenstar Adept. Your character is familiar with the Mana Wastes and Alkenstar. You may have X archtypes.
• Numerian prospector. In your travels you were able to find a piece of technology from a shard of the silver mount that calved off, or from the mount itself. You may start with an advanced firearm.

• Page Four

Spoiler:

• a boon that (temporarily) granted your teamwork feat to another PF
• I think a custom Pathfinder-themed archetype that you could apply to a new character or multiclass into with an existing character would certainly draw people to conventions as much as a race would.
• Lucky trinket- Player can choose another object that can be use in place of a faction shirt for a " shirt reroll" for this particular character. This would still only allow one reroll per session. Describe it in detail below."
• What about a boon that brought back the old heirloom weapon trait?
• One that allows banned or adventure path traits (Professor Lorimer wrote me a letter of introduction to the PFS!)such as magical knack.
• Double Agent: You may have an evil-aligned character as one of your Pathfinder Society characters.
• A boon that allows a restricted archetype would be awesome. Spellslinger, for one.
• Access to a rare familiar? Such as an elemental, etc.
• A unique trait, that lets you do something fun once per day (such as a watchman being able to gain a +5 on a diplomacy check with guards once per session).
• A unique ioun stone?
• unique named items could be found.
• The other would be rare familiar or mount or animal. Companion booms
• A 20 point custom race would be an awesome boon, and promote fluff and flavor as well
• So how about a strong boon that only works at conventions? At an official boon-giving con, you can do X cool thing.
• Boon: Sanctioned Slaughter - While playing a scenario at an official convention, your character gains a +1 Convention bonus on attack rolls.
• Boon: Lodge library access - Once per scenario, while playing a scenario at an official convention, your character gains access to the Scribe Scroll feat
• Boon: Lodge clerk access - Once per scenario, while playing a scenario at an official convention, you may hire a Society spellcaster to cast Permanency and any allowed spell with a cost of up to 7,500 gp
• Boon: Phantom Fingers - while playing a scenario at an official convention, you may force a Venture Captain or Paizo Employee to do a little dance for all to see. Cross out this boon when used.
• Boon: Phantom Fingers - while playing a scenario at an official convention, you may force a Venture Captain or Paizo Employee to do a little dance for all to see. Cross out this boon when used. Compilers edit: I cheated and put this one twice as I thought it was really cool.
• Boon: Luck of the Gods - while playing a scenario at an official convention, you may force a Game Master, Venture Captain, or Paizo Employee (who is not otherwise occupied) to blow on your dice for luck. Cross out this boon when used.
• Boon: Clean Living - while playing a scenario at an official convention, if you have taken a shower in the last 23 hours, you gain a +2 Convention bonus on Diplomacy checks and saving throws against poison and disease.
• "special mention" by the GM. For example before the game starts you hand the GM your boon sheet. The sheet has a blurb the GM introduces into the scenario where the GM sees fit. Like when the Venture Captain is handing out the orders, he address the PC by name and says "I want to personally thank you again for your heroic efforts during the Azlanti Scandel".

• Page 5

Spoiler:

• A boon for one free rebuild. Faction and class(es) have to remain the same, (for bookkeeping) but archtypes, stat bumps, etc.
• Combat training - Your character trained in a combat intensive environment. You are proficient in all martial weapons.
• The ability to take extra channel more than once. Or a boon that gives extra channels.
• Friends in high places - You have made contacts with various scholars and spent long hours in conversation.
• Once per scenario, you may make a knowlege roll even if you are untrained in the knowlege, with a bonus equal to half your level + your intelligence modifier.
• Brigh's blessing. Your worship of the construct goddess has forever changed you. You have a 20% chance to negate precision damage, as light fortification.
• Abadarian Connections: If you are captured, you may use this boon to be released from captivity, free of charge. Once used, cross this boon off.
• Desna Laughs Once per scenario if a critical hit does enough damage to drop you to negative HP, you may treat that hit as if it never happened. You take a -1 luck penalty to to hit rolls for the remainder of the scenario.
• Torag's Durability: If your character would take enough damage to put them at -con, they are instead stable at 0 hitpoints. Once used, this boon is crossed off.
• Abadar's Balance: When an enemy hits you or has a spell affect you, you may have the effect apply to that enemy as well. This may not be reduced or mitigated. Once used, this boon is crossed off.

• Page Six

Spoiler:

• a Continual Flame spell cast on an item your PC owns? Like a glove or sword or helmet... Perhaps a circlet? then you would have "a crown of fire"
• Touched by Castrovel Your half elf character has latent psionic potential. He may cast light on any crystal valued over 5 GP. This light lasts as long as he holds it.

• posts not related to brainstorming even though this thread is for brainstorming

Spoiler:

• Posts thrashing an idea: 76
• Posts fixing an idea: 16
• Posts with the word ‘teh’ in them” : 43
• Posts about elitism: 2s0mething
• Posts that made me laugh: 2 cry: 8
• Posts complaining about other posts: 1@!%@!^@%*&!!!teen
• Posts about some inane complaint referring to a thread that this one was started to avoid continuing so we could brainstorm: too many to read, like I really want to spend more time rea... :0

Suggestion: how about we throw out a few more ideas (end of page 6? Maybe 7?) Then we can start a new thread polling for everyone’s top X, bottom X. Then we start a thread to fix the suggestions for balance. Then we have a doc Mike & Marc can use.

The last thing we need is to make PFS any more video-game like. I have already heard one person refer to scenarios as "instances". I think steam actually came out of my ears. This would just encourage things like a character staying three rooms behind and not contributing as they should to the scenario to unlock the achievement for themselves, which can be a drag for everyone else at the table. Bad idea.

That sort of obsessive and disruptive behavior is definitely something to be careful of, but there are ways to make an achievement system work without causing that. Just make sure all of the achievements are cooperative and drive the mission forward. Maybe they can be scenario-specific, bonus quest objectives, optional combats or puzzles, or activated by helping the other party members.

As far as people using video game terminology, I'm not going to try and stop them. Honey and vinegar and whatnot. The very fact that someone with that much time and energy invested in MMORPGs would give our low-tech hobby a chance should be celebrated. Losing people to video games is one of the biggest sources of panic I've ever encountered in tabletop gaming. Let's not encourage it.

Nosig, Jason S, and Dennis, I agree with you regarding boon duration/frequency. Non-race convention boons are often best served as limited-use bonuses - particularly some of the potent bonuses suggested thus far. Permanent boons are tricky to design, as ideally they favor flavor with interesting (but minor) mechanics. Personally, I like best those boons that are broadly applicable, appealing to anybody who might snag one at a convention because the boons expand an individual characters options instead serving as a central pillar around which to build a new character.

Some good role-models among the existing boons are:
- Demon Hunter (you gain a +1 on attack rolls vs. demons; choose one: become specialized in Knowledge (planes) or learn to speak Abyssal)

- Monastery Trained (choose a combat maneuver. When using that maneuver, you may take a -2 penalty to your CMB to avoid provoking an attack of opportunity)

The first grants a very circumstantial bonus to hit and expands a character's skills slightly - perhaps helping a character to diversify in an unexpected and fresh direction.

The second opens up a combat option for a player who might enjoy performing an occasional combat maneuver but doesn't want to be punished for playing creatively. The boon does not help anybody who is specialized in a particular maneuver, thus it expands play options without contributing heavily to power creep.

That said, I like the flavor of some of the ideas that have been voiced here. I look forward to seeing where it goes.

Yeah my intent was to keep it one per character, someone who worships the deity. The reason I was thinking they 'refresh' is because people are saying the race boons are 'more powerful' and desirable. That's also why I started this thread as well, for people to suggest how to get that 'exotic race' flavour without the actual race.

@Face_Pollution.
That you don't want all the races at a table doesn't mean that everyone doesn't. (And let's face it, in the end, Mike and Mark are the only ones whose opinion of what's at the table matters.) In the other thread we already had anecdotal examples of boon races showing up in quantity (three tengu come to mind) and as for 'rarity in Golarion' there's nothing preventing a table of 6 summoners, arguably the rarest class in Golarion.

Here's an example of a boon that I got for one of my PCs that I REALLY like.

"Momentary Savant: When required to make a skill check for a skill that you have no ranks in, you automatically succeed. This boon is usable only one time. Once this boon has been used, cross it off the sheet."

I saw a 3rd level Druid make a Disable Device check to open a DC 60 lock... wow! Talk about Kewl! and 4 other tables full of players also saw him...

Here's an example of a boon that I got for one of my PCs that I REALLY like.

"Momentary Savant: When required to make a skill check for a skill that you have no ranks in, you automatically succeed. This boon is usable only one time. Once this boon has been used, cross it off the sheet."

I saw a 3rd level Druid make a Disable Device check to open a DC 60 lock... wow! Talk about Kewl! and 4 other tables full of players also saw him...

While I do love awesome moments, as someone who has tried their hand at writing a scenario, that boon leads to problems. Such as passing a DC 60 (aka, something that shouldn't be possible).

Or, for example, there is a PFS scenario that has you go investigate what is causing a disturbance in an old manor. Get basic info, make a knowledge check, and auto pass. Thus, negating the whole mystery aspect. Giving players a nice bonus is one thing. Giving players a free pass to break a scenario is another.

I know this far into a thread is asking is a bit much, but can we keep on the topic of potential boons? I think there are a number of interesting suggestions, and I'd rather not see the thread devolve into me explaining why you're wrong about keeping the races 'boon exclusive' ;-) We've plenty enough threads for that.

.

I think we should start a new thread called New Boon Ideas and move all the legitimate ideas there. This one keeps getting jacked by complaints and I have grown tired of looking through it for those gems that are good ideas for new Boons.

I know this far into a thread is asking is a bit much, but can we keep on the topic of potential boons? I think there are a number of interesting suggestions, and I'd rather not see the thread devolve into me explaining why you're wrong about keeping the races 'boon exclusive' ;-) We've plenty enough threads for that.

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I think we should start a new thread called New Boon Ideas and move all the legitimate ideas there. This one keeps getting jacked by complaints and I have grown tired of looking through it for those gems that are good ideas for new Boons.

The last thing we need is to make PFS any more video-game like. I have already heard one person refer to scenarios as "instances". I think steam actually came out of my ears. This would just encourage things like a character staying three rooms behind and not contributing as they should to the scenario to unlock the achievement for themselves, which can be a drag for everyone else at the table. Bad idea.

That sort of obsessive and disruptive behavior is definitely something to be careful of, but there are ways to make an achievement system work without causing that. Just make sure all of the achievements are cooperative and drive the mission forward. Maybe they can be scenario-specific, bonus quest objectives, optional combats or puzzles, or activated by helping the other party members.

I think that making achievements scenario specific is an even worse idea, since you only have a single chance to officially play each module. Making a scenario specific achievement is a)no different from what we already have with a boon on the chronicle sheet and b)a recipe to cause even more time pressure to finish the scenario in a slot (something which is already considerable), as everyone runs off in different directions to do the main mission, the faction missions, and now X random thing for an acheivement.

I'm really not trying to be rude or insensitive about this, nor will I assume you havent thought of any and all other options you might have to get you to a con that isnt close to the Metro, but I would imagine that for every legally blind (or similarly handicapped person) who has some kind of condition which keeps them from being able to attend a convention/game day, there is one who has similar circumstances but has found a way to work around it and is able to attend.

You completely missed the point on what I was trying to say.. not going to repeat it though as it seems to have moved on and I stated what I was going to and yet no one seems to really listen to what I was trying to get across.

Makes me glad I am part of the Pathfinder Society with some of the people being the way they are :(

If this is the case, then the current restrictions on races are probably the best system. I had assumed people were doing this for a fun con experience, not to prove how much better they are than the folks that don't do cons.

I think it's unfair to imply that one goes to a con to prove that one is better than people who don't. The point of the convention boons is to bring previous convention-goers back and to try to entice new attendees.

There's a huge difference between, "Hey, I got this at the con and you can get something cool, too, if you go next year," and "Hey, I got this at the con and you didn't because you suck."

If your motivation to go to a convention is to prove that you're better than people who don't, you don't need a boon. You might need a cluebat.

If your motivation to go to a con is to get cool stuff like your friend did, that's a little better than #1, but not as good as...

If your motivation is to get to a convention is to have fun, you're doing it right. And guess what? While you're there, you get cool stuff!

Sure let the rich kids get first crack at them but the poor kids should get a chance eventually.

There's another good idea.

If we can't limit con boons to the cons, because people need to show off to the people who don't go to cons, then how about a time limit?

Get a con race boon, and it's exclusive. For the season. When the next season comes out, it's opened up to the public. That lets the special con people get something, show it off, etc. By the time the commoners get access to it, the con folks will have had a chance to attend another con and get a newer one.

Sure let the rich kids get first crack at them but the poor kids should get a chance eventually.

There's another good idea.

If we can't limit con boons to the cons, because people need to show off to the people who don't go to cons, then how about a time limit?

Get a con race boon, and it's exclusive. For the season. When the next season comes out, it's opened up to the public. That lets the special con people get something, show it off, etc. By the time the commoners get access to it, the con folks will have had a chance to attend another con and get a newer one.

Its a good idea Steg, a lot of people have mentioned it too. I hope the powers-that-be are listening.

Sure let the rich kids get first crack at them but the poor kids should get a chance eventually.

There's another good idea.

If we can't limit con boons to the cons, because people need to show off to the people who don't go to cons, then how about a time limit?

Get a con race boon, and it's exclusive. For the season. When the next season comes out, it's opened up to the public. That lets the special con people get something, show it off, etc. By the time the commoners get access to it, the con folks will have had a chance to attend another con and get a newer one.

Its a good idea Steg, a lot of people have mentioned it too. I hope the powers-that-be are listening.

I think this idea has potential as well. I used to be big into Magic: the Gathering, and the Pre-Release tournies for new expansion sets were HUGELY popular, even though you only got your cards a week or two before they were available for purchase. Getting your race (or other) boon a season ahead of everyone else would still feel very special, I imagine.

getting a race boon a week or two before it is opened to the general public would be less so. There is a big difference between getting new MtG cards that you can play in a few minutes and getting a Race Boon that would take days (weeks for me) to even build a character around.

I always seem to get my "new shiny" on the last week. so unless the plan is to STOP issueing the Boons for a year, someone would be getting theirs within XX days of when everyone is set to jump in with their "New Race". Consider being one of the few people able to run a Gunslinger... and you get this boon 3 days before they put out Ultimit Combat and we get First Step tables with 4 Gunslingers at them (yeah, I Judged more than one tier one table with gunslingers and one other PC).

If you come to a party late, expect others to have enjoyed it longer then you. (Unless they had to leave early.)

It is not productive or fair to say something is bad just because someone is getting the short stick. Think about about, the nature of boons is that most people are getting the short stick. The trick is to make those short sticks almost as long as everyone else's.

If you come to a party late, expect others to have enjoyed it longer then you. (Unless they had to leave early.)

It is not productive or fair to say something is bad just because someone is getting the short stick. Think about about, the nature of boons is that most people are getting the short stick. The trick is to make those short sticks almost as long as everyone else's.

My only qualm with con boons is that you pay and go to great expense to go and play at conventions. There's an added shiny of "you _might_ get a boon." the last few cons I took the time to go to, I was lucky to get a tian training boon and aasimar at one, because I GMed, the second con I didn't have time to GM ( I Gm almost exclusively locally so I like to play when I go away ) , and I got no boons ( for every two slots played you got a chance to get a boon, if you rolled 15+ on a d20, I played four slots, rolled twice and walked away with nothing)

I would like to see the purse strings loosened on boons. Not everyone wants to GM at cons to get some exclusive boon, that's fine, you need some incentive to get GMs. But it would be nice to get _something_ for going to a con, or have a chance at something for every slot played.

My only qualm with con boons is that you pay and go to great expense to go and play at conventions. There's an added shiny of "you _might_ get a boon." the last few cons I took the time to go to, I was lucky to get a tian training boon and aasimar at one, because I GMed, the second con I didn't have time to GM ( I Gm almost exclusively locally so I like to play when I go away ) , and I got no boons ( for every two slots played you got a chance to get a boon, if you rolled 15+ on a d20, I played four slots, rolled twice and walked away with nothing)

I would like to see the purse strings loosened on boons. Not everyone wants to GM at cons to get some exclusive boon, that's fine, you need some incentive to get GMs. But it would be nice to get _something_ for going to a con, or have a chance at something for every slot played.

I had the same thing happen to me at Kublacon I threw in 4 chits to roll for a boon and needed an 8 or better. I rolled a 4 so no player boon for me. I tried again on the last day with 5 chits and finally rolled a 10 a got me a boon. I GM'd 3 slots got a GM boon and got a nice BAPS PFS coin from Mike Brock and Jason Bulhman so that was sweet and worthwhile.

V, I wish you would have gone to Origins you would have been really lucky and not only would you have walked away with swag, a boon as a GM, you would have had a decent chance to get one as a player if you played 3+ slots. For those that played PFS exclusively (10+slots)they were guaranteed at least two boons from all the chits.

I hope the boon award method will be streamlined in season 4 so that the mechanics to earn a boon are the same at every convention. (i.e. Gm's who Gm 3+ slots get a boon; players who play a slot get a roll and +4 to the roll for each additional slot...)